Super Junior Takes Debut Victory
30 July 2012
The Pencarrow bred sire Darci Brahma looks to have another exciting performer in Singapore with the Pencarrow bred and sold Super Junior winning his much anticipated debut in Singapore on Friday night.
Sent out favourite in the S$65,000 Restricted Maiden (1000m) after winning all three of his trials, Super Junior (ex Summary) did not disappoint punters as he raced to a one-and-a-half length win under jockey Joao Moreira.
Trainer Michael Freeman was pleased with the two-year-old's debut performance and expects the colt to improve over more ground.
Super Junior. Photo courtesy of the STC.
“He had a bit of pressure on him at his first start,” said Freedman. “When we bought him we never thought that he was a 1000 metre horse.
“He’s bred to get a mile and maybe even a bit further and that was why we targeted him, but to be winning a 1000 metre race as a two-year-old is certainly a bit of a bonus.
“He’s such a laid back horse and the race experience will do him the world of good.”
Freedman is keen to step Super Junior up in distance slowly and has an eye on the S$200,000 170th Jubilee Stakes over 1400 metres on 30 September, a race restricted to three-year-olds.
Bred by Peter and Philip Vela, Super Junior was purchased by Michael Freedman from Pencarrow Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2011 Karaka Premier Sale for $100,000.
Raced by Andre Lim and Hong Ying Kwee’s Joy N Happiness Stable, the pair also race Singapore’s superstar three-year-old Super Easy (Darci Brahma), who is trained by Michael Freedman, and asked Freedman to keep an eye out for any Darci Brahma yearlings at Karaka 2011.
“At the time, we already had an idea how good Super Easy was,” recalled Freedman. The owners only told me it would be nice if we could buy another yearling by Darci Brahma.”
“I spoke with my bloodstock agent Michael Wallace and he shortlisted a selection of half a dozen at the 2011 Karaka Yearling Sales and we settled for this one.
A well-bred colt, Super Junior is a half-brother to the triple Group 2 winning mare Shikoba (Chief Bearhart) who was the 2006 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year. His dam Summary is a half-sister to the stakes winner Cloister (Marauding) who is the dam of dual Group 1 winning sprinter Melito (Redoute's Choice).
Summary has a weanling colt at foot by the Group 1 winning sprinter Sakhee's Secret.